Creative Play

A day of art, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit with Elizabeth Canon and Jan McCarthy.

Entrepreneurship requires constant problem solving, decision making, and forward movement. It is easy to forget that creativity—true creativity—requires space.

Recently I spent a day photographing a gathering organized by entrepreneur and coach Elizabeth Canon. Instead of another strategy session or business workshop, Elizabeth gave the women in her group something far more valuable: time to step away from their businesses and simply create.

She invited artist Jan McCarthy to lead the day.

The focus was not perfection or productivity. It was play.

Jan guided the group through an art lesson designed to loosen the grip of expectation and invite experimentation. Paint, color, texture, and curiosity took the place of emails and deadlines. The room quickly shifted from polite hesitation to laughter and immersion. What began as a lesson became a space of discovery.

This kind of pause is rare for entrepreneurs. The instinct is always to keep moving forward—to build, improve, expand. Yet creativity doesn’t thrive under constant pressure. It thrives when we allow ourselves time to wander, to explore, and to make something without knowing the outcome.

That is exactly what happened during this day.

Women who spend most of their time leading businesses and supporting others were given permission to be beginners again. Brushes moved across paper. Colors layered unexpectedly. Conversations flowed easily around the tables.

What stood out most was the spirit in the room.

Entrepreneurship can often feel solitary. But gatherings like this reveal another truth: when women come together with generosity and curiosity, they expand one another’s thinking and energy. Elizabeth has built her work around helping women grow both personally and professionally, encouraging them to step fully into their power as entrepreneurs.

The art itself almost becomes secondary.

The real gift is the time.

Time to step away from the constant motion of business.
Time to reconnect with curiosity.
Time to remember that creativity is not something reserved for artists—it is a vital resource for anyone building something meaningful.

As a photographer, I was drawn to the moments between the brushstrokes: women leaning over their work, laughing at unexpected results, pausing to look closely at what another person created.

It was a day of creative play, but also a reminder.

When we give ourselves space to explore and experiment, we return to our work more energized, more imaginative, and more connected to the reasons we started in the first place.

Sometimes the most productive thing an entrepreneur can do is step away from the business and make something with their hands.

If you are curious about the work behind this gathering, Elizabeth Canon leads entrepreneurial coaching for women who are building businesses and looking for deeper alignment in their work and lives. You can learn more about her work at elizabethcanon.com.

Artist Jan McCarthy, who guided the group through the art session, offers workshops and classes designed to help people reconnect with creativity through painting and experimentation. You can explore her work and upcoming classes at janmccarthy.com.